Method and machine for thrashing grain, etc.



Sept. 27, 1927. 1,643,827

J.'J.. TRUEB I IETHOD AND MACHINE FOR THRASHING GRAIN, ETC

original Filed Feb. 16, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 QprunFuec/an RB /urn of cdrr/gd over //0 Gram.

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27 1927. Sept J. J. TRUEB METHOD AND MA CHINE FOR THRASHING GRAI INQ ETC 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Original Fild Feb. 16, 1925 Juliu; J

Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

' JULIUS J. TRUEB, OF 'BREQVSTEB', OHIO.

METHOD AND IIIACHINE'FOE THRASHING GRAIN, ETC.

Application-filed :February li, 1925, SeriabNmQfiOl. Renewed June-6, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in thrashing machines particularly welladapted for; thG-ti'lltShillQf of grain, and embodying t novel steps in'thep'rocess or method of thrashing, and novel apparatus to accomplish the segregation of the kernels'from' straw and chaff.

A further objectof this invention is the provision of an improved thrashing machine I embodying a novel treatment of "theigrain, and by which segregatlon of loose kernels and other loosened particles such as dust,

chaff, and the like. which result "from agitation and attrition incidentally-to handling and conveyance, ISfiCCOHlPllShQCl prior to the thrashing of the grain in the conventional 1 spiked cylinders and concaves, and thus eliminating the necessity of passing such loosened material through the thrashing action.) I v A further OlJjQQl? of this invention is the provision" of a novel thrashing machine,

which embodies a series of steps of treatment prior to theimain thrashingv action for the removal of vchaif, dust, and'otherhkesubstances, and .doing awaylwith the necessity.

of passing them through the entire thrashingaction, and thus provlding a really effective dust-control ,WlHCh greatlyreduces th menace of smut explosions.

A further .objectfof the invention is the provision of a novel combination thrashing cylinder and fan, and means 1toreas1ly obtain samplesto determine the eificiency of thrashing operation; Y 1

A further object oft-his inventionis the provision of amethod of thrashing grain of various kinds, beans. rice, or other crops, for the most effective and expeditious separation and segregation of the kernel from the chaff, straw, hulls, dun, and the like.

Qther objects of this invention are the provision of novel apparatus for:'-feeding the grain into the machine at a point .between the thrashing cylinder and stacker fan: moving the unthrashed grain in a direction towards the thrashing mechanism andaway from the stacker'fan; rough cleaning the unthrashed grain prior to the main 7 thrashingaction; producing atho-roughagie tation and loosening of kernels loy=means of passagethrough a loathe duct; and causing thekernels to separate by'grav1ty from a pneumatically conveyed mass of loosened kernels, chaff and straw.

Other objects and advantages of this in= vention' will be apparent during thecourse of the following detailed descriptiont In the accompanying dr-awings,-=forming; a part of this specification, and wherein =similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Figure .1 is a diagrammatic representation of the method of thrashinggthegrain according to this invention, and which diagrammatic view as is known to the art may be designated a flow sheet or milling program;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the improved thrashing machine. showing somewhat diagrammatically the arrangement of appar.atus, in its preferred relation of parts.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken longitudinally of a novel type of thrashing cylinder; which in accordance with this -invention is provided with structure which enables the same to function also as a blower fan. 1 v H l Figure 4::is a diagrammaticviewof a legend used in connectionwith-the function ing of the parts illustrated in Figure 2.

In the drawings. wherein for the purpose of illustration is showndiagrammatically the various steps of the improved method of thrashing grain, and the preferred arrange ment of apparatus to carryout such method, the letter A 7 may generally designate the improved thrashing machine, which may include a housing B; conveyor means (1 to feed the bundles or-headed grain onto -a=rnain endless conveyor D.' Pressure feedmechanisinE of any approvedcharacter may be provided for regulatinggfeed of the unthrashed grain intothrashing relation with novel thrashing apparatus F; (train segregating andfeedina apparatus G is provided cooperahly'located with respect to the pressure feeder E and the thrashing mechanism F. Grainbaifling mechanism H is provided for treating the grain afterpassage through of kernels. Blower mechanism L isprovided at the exit end of the thrashing machine for discharging foreign materials such as dust, chaff; straw, and the like.

Referring more specifically tothe "details incident'to rotation of the screen, about the periphery thereof, or ina path about the periphery, into a trough or other device? 57 with the compartmentv 58 of which-a slot 59 communicates, and in which slot an air suction is created during operation of the mechanism-F, by the fan arrangement embodied in the spiked cylinder 42, and which will be subsequently described, so that the tailings are drawn from the compartment 58, and pneumatically conveyed into the spiked cylinder 42, and discharged therefrom after being subjected to an agitating and thrashing action.

In connection with the operating of the fan embodied as part of the spiked cylinder 42, it is to'be noted that a considerable blast of air' is created, which is sufiiciently vigorousto cause a portion of the same to pass thru the rough cleaning grid 41, causing the loosened kernels, dust, chaff, and the like to pass therethrou'gh.

The grain entering the compartment of the cleaning trommel 48 is therein subjected to a fin al cl'eaning,,which is obtained by connecting a conduit into an end wall of this trommeL-having an opening 66 leadinginto the compartment 55 of the trommel; the conduit 65 communicating with the duct 51 of the stack or conduit- 50 so that the suction in thewconduit 50 may cause the chad and other foreign materials to separate from the kernels; the latter passing through an opening or duct 69' into! a suitable conveyor or conduit 70, from whence they are elevated in any approved manner to the weigher and ba'gger.

Referring to' the improved mechanism F, the same is preferably mounted in' the upper end of the chamber 40, and a wall separates this chamber 40 from the classification chamber 100, so that the blasts of air created by action of the spiked-cylinder fan structure 42 will be properly directed into'the grid 41 and into the way through the baflie duct arrangement H. This wall 80' extends from the. pressure feed roller 33- upwardly and about the portion of the circumference of the spiked cylinder 42 to a point of connection with the duct arrangement H to be subsequently described.

it will of course be understood by anyone skilled in the art to'whi'ch this invention relates that the grain passes to the spiked cylinder structure 4-2. between the spiked periphery thereof and the spiked concave structure 82', where the kernels remaining in the grain heads are thrashed out. The concave device, or merely concave? as it is known to the art. is carried bv the thrasher housing B, and provided with a concave surface facing the spiked cylinder 42, upon which a seriesof spikes or teeth 83 are provided in staggered; r meshing relation with the. teeth of the spiked cylinder 42, whereby upon r0.-

tationof the spiked cyli-nder theunthra-shed.

the grain heads- Referring to the spiked-cylinder structure 42, the same differs in constructionfrom the conventionaltype, in that it isdeveloped into a blower fan, and the' ends thereof are'open instead of being closed. The main object of such constructionyis to subject the grain-as it passes over the rough cleaninggrid just prior to entering the spiked cylinder, to an air blast which finds an outlet thru' the rough cleaning grid 41, and to provide an air blast which will direct the mass of straw, chaff, kernels, etc. which passthroughthe spiked cylinder into the baffle duct arrangement H, ata liigh velocity.

Thespiked cylinder fan construct-ion preferably comprises a shaft 85. which rota-tably bears in the side walls of the housing- B in any approved manner. fir Figure 3has been illustrated one form which the invention may assume, and in this view the conduits 59 are secured to the side walls 20 of the housing B, and the shaft 85 bears in these conduits the passageways 60' through the conduits being open to the interior of the spiked cylinder structure 42, by means offo-penings 86 provided in the side wal 20; End and intermediate spiders 87 are keyed to the shaft 85, each of the same preferably comprising ahub portion with radially extending spokes and a circumferential rim At the periphery of these ays 60, and-the spiked cylinder is open at its periphery 111' the space between the bars 89 and the rings The bars SQ-and rings 90 of course carry the conventional spikes 91'. which are disposed in a cooperating meshingrelation with respect to the spikes of the concave 82. As important feature ofthe invention. 93 are carried witlr in the spiked cylinder, by the spokes of the spiders 87. as is illustrated in F1gures-2 and 3 of the drawings; these vanes preferably terminating short of the shaft 85 to permit the current air to pass inwardlyfrom V the ways 60; upon rotation of the apparatus 93 will force the air from between them outwardly, "producing an area of greater than atmospheric pressure at its circumference, and tending to cause a partial vacuum within the spiked cylinder. The blast of air thus created will leave by way of the rough cleaning grid 11 and baffle duct arrangement H, as above described. The air for said blast is drawn through the passageways of the conduits 59, and thus pneumatically conveys the tailings after the same have passed the cleaning trommel 48, upwardly through the conduits 59 and to the interior of the spiked cylinder 4-2. These tailings following the air currents may leave by way of the battle duct arrangement at the top of the machine, and they will fall upon the grain entering the cylinder from the chamber 10. In the latter case the tailings will be drawn through the concave 82 and the spiked cylinder 12, along with the grain, and if the tailings have been cleaned by action of the vanes 93, the kernels will drop incident to gravity, and assisted by the blasts of air will slip through the incoming feed of grain, and leave by way of the rough cleaning grid. 11. It will be readily understood that this can take place since upon leaving the pressure feed device E the unthrashed grain is released in the compartment 40 andpermitted to spread and loosen, so that the loose kernals in the chamber 40 will slip down through the mass of unthrashed grain, and be carried by the vigorous air blasts which takes place through the ascending grain, into the cleaning compartment 16. Such action of the kernels will also assist in breaking loose other kernels from the incoming grain, and liberating chaff, dust, etc. all of which will leave by way of the rough cleaning grid 11.

The improved bafi'le duct arrangement H is a novel departure from conventional thrashing practice, in that instead of abruptly stopping the mass of straw and grain, as by conventional wing heaters, or similar apparatus, the rush of grain as it passes the concave and spiked cylinder is permitted to spend its force gradually, by means of being passed through a series of baflles 95, which cause the mass to change its direction a plurality of times during its travel through the duct or way 96 defined by these baflies," the resulting attrition and agitation serving to free any entrapped kernels from the straw. These baffles 95 are arranged in an upper series and a lower series, with the planes thereof in convergent relation from the spiked cylinder, to provide the tortuous way or battle duct 96. It is preferred to provide a last baffle 97, in the nature of a closure in the top wall of the housing B, against which the grain strikes on'its passage from the baltle duct 96 into the classification chamber 100.

The'baflies' 95 are preferably of special formation, comprising supporting boards or plates 101 faced with resilient material 102, such as rubber. The kernels being thrown against the resilient material 102 of said baflles, which of course faces the duct 96, will be deflected with practically undiminished speed through the mass of straw and grain travelling through the duct 96, and of course with little liability of fracture incident to impact with the baffles 95. The straw on the other hand upon impact with the somewhat resilient surface 102 will not glance off, as do the heavy and hard kernels, but will rather have a tendency to turn. end for end and thus be projected into the mass following it. This will cause within the mass in the battle duct 96 a considerable agitation which is very beneficial in so far as thrashing action is concerned,

and will cause the mass of matter in the battle duct to emerge therefrom into the classification chamber, in the best possible condition, so that the kernels will be free to drop by gravity, and the chaff, dust, straw, and other foreign materials to be pneumatically conveyed across the classitication chamber to the conveyor or apron 110.

The grain which is unthrashed, and the kernels will fall upon the main conveyor D, and will be returned by way of the pressure'feed device E into the compartment l0, and in which the kernels will pass thru the rough cleaning grid 41 and the unthrashed grain passes into the spiked cylinder mechanisi'n for further treatment. In this respect the improved thrasher Acmbodies a novel step which is not at present conventional practice, and thereby a greater yield of kernels is obtained.

As before mentioned the straw and other foreign materials being lighter thanthe kernels which drop from the classification thereof. This grid 111 is part of the mechanism K, and is placed to receive therethrough any grain or tailings which are car ried over wlth the straw.

downwardly upon the inclined wall112, which is part of the housing B. 'A sampler box or analogous testing device 114 may be placed in the space below the grid 111, within which part of the kernels, grain, and tailings coming through the grid 111 Such grain and tailings fall through the grid 111 and slide.

.From the foregoing description of this .invention it is apparent that a novel method ofthrashing, grain has been provided includmg a sequence of steps for the best separation of the kernels from the straw and chaff, and embodying apparatus by which .the method .is carried out, which is arranged in a novel and radically different manner from conventional construction.

' Various changes in the shape, size, and

arrangement of parts, as well as'departure, from the'given sequence of steps by which,

the grain is thrashed, may be made in the invention herein illustrated and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe claims.

, I claim:

1. These steps in the process of thrashing grain which consist in sifting amass of .unthrashed grain, pneumatically forcing a blast of air through the mass of unthrashed grain as it is being sifted to force kernels. chaff, dust, and other foreign materials from said unthrashed grain, and subsequently thrashing the grain and segregating kernels therefrom.

2. That process of thrashing grain which consists in sifting an unthrashed mass of grain, forcing a blast of air through the mass of grain and grid to carry loosened kernels, chaff, dust, and foreign materials from the unthrashed grain, thrashing the unthrashed mass of grain to loosen the ker-' nelsfrom the straw and chaff thereof, separating [the kernels rlast mentioned from the straw and chaff,- and'cleaning and segregating :the straw and chaff from thegker'nels which have been sifted asfirstmentioned.

3. Thatprocess of thrashing grain which consists in sifting an .unthrashed mass .of grain, forcinga blast of air through the mass of grain to carry loosened kernels, chaff, dust, and foreign materials from the unthrashed grain, thrashing theunthrashed mass of grain to loosen the kernels fronithe strawand chaff thereof, separating the kern'els :last mentioned from the straw and. chafi',1 cleaning and segregatingthe straw and chafi from" the kernels whiclrhave been. sifted as first mentioned, and been'loosened as first mentioned, and combining all of the kernels'which have been loosened by the clifferei tv operations.

- 4. i l hat process of thrashing grain which consists in conveying thetgrain and sieving the loosened grain and foreign materials from the mass of unthrashed grain, subsequently thrashing the grain toloosen the kernels from .the straw and chaff, pneumatically converging and bafiiing thekernels and said chaff to further separate kernels from the straw, and segregating the kernels after sleving and baflhng from the oha-fL' -dust,

- and straw.

5. That process of thrashinggrain which consists in conveying a mass'ofu-nthra shed grain ll'ltO' a mechan cal thrashing imechw nism to tear the kernels loose from the' straw and chaii, pneumatic-ally conveying {the loos-- ened kern els, straw and chaff through a chamber-above the unthrashed grainw'vhieh is being conveyed, -1n such m'anner -that the heavier loosened kernels will fall into t-he mass of unthrashed grain being conveyed-a toward the mechanical thrashing mechanism, removing said kernels and" other loosened kernels from said graiinia-nd removin the loosened straw and chaff i from the thrashing zone.

6. That process of thrashing grainwhich consists in conveying a massof unthrashed grain into a mechanical thrashin -mecha'- nism ,totear the -kernels loose -rom Qthe straw and chafi, pneumatically conveying the loosened kernels,

grain which is being conV-eyed in such'mfamner that the heavier loosenedkernels will fall into themass of'unthrashed grain beingi-emb ingthe loosened straw and chaff f m straw v and -;chafi through a chamber above the unthrashed' thethia'shing' Zone, and further treating' s id I straw and chaff for removal of the ing kernels. 1 l i i i "7. That method of thrashing gr ain' which on i t in ve in a mas o e th hs rain te s t sa e hins etha e sure feeding the mass of nnthrashed' jgraln towards the thrashing mechanism, sifting the loosened grain, ,sitra w, 'ch alf vand from the unthrashed body of grain prior ,to-

entrance through said thrashing mechanism,

pneumatically conveyingthe loosened grain after passage through said thrashlng nieeh- -anism, and separat ng the ,loosened kernels from the straw and chaff and segregating the same.

8.- Those steps in the method of'thrasl ing grain which consist in force feedings of unthrashecl ,grai1 i,- pneumatically sieving i the said unthrashed grain for carrying loosenedgrain, dust, and chaff from thej bo'dy of ,unthrashedgrain, thrashing-the body of unthrashed grain 'toloosen kernels, straw and: chafi, pneumatically bafflingand conveying the mass after thrashing -over astor tuous path to further separate kernels from said straw in said mass, segregating the kernels which have been sieved from dust and chaff, and separating kernels from straw and chaff subsequent to baffling.

9. That method of thrashing grain which consists in conveying a mass of unthrashed grain, providing a positive feed for the mass of unthrashed grain, causing a blast of air to travel transversely through said mass of unthrashed grain for segregating kernels and loosened chaff and dust, thrashing the remaining mass of unthrashed grain to loosen the kernels therefrom, pneumatically conveying the thrashed mass through a baflied way to further loosen kernels from the thrashed mass by attrition and agitation, causing theloosened kernels, chaff, and straw to be pneumatically conveyed thru a chamber over a path of sufficient length so that the kernels will drop by gravity from the pneumatically conveyed straw and chaff, and segregating the kernels.

10. That method of thrashing grain which consists in conveying a mass of unthrashed grain, force feeding the mass of unthrashed grain, causing a blast of air to travel transversely through said mass of unthrashed grain for segregating kernels and loosened chaff and dust, thrashing the remaining mass of unthrashed grain to loosen the kernels therefrom, pneumatically baffling the thrashed mass to further loosen kernels from the thrashed mass by attrition and agitation,

' causing the loosened kernels, chaff and straw to be pneumatically conveyed over a path of sufficient length so that the kernels will drop by gravity from the pneumatically conveyed straw and chaff, segregating the kernels, and sieving the straw and chaff which have been pneumatically conveyed by said last step of the method for further separation of kernels and tailings from the worthless straw and chaff.

11. That method of thrashing grain which consists in first cleaning a body of unthrashed grain to separate loose kernels and tailings therefrom, causing the resultant body of unthrashed grain to undergo a thrashing operation to loosen the grain kernels therefrom, subsequently treating the thrashing grain for segregation of kernels from the straw and chaff, removing and segregating the tailings from the kernels which have been separated from the mass of un thrashed grain of said first cleaning step of the method, and conveying said tailings for treatment in the thrashing operation above mentioned to cause loosening of the kernels therefrom.

12. In a thrashing machine the combination of a housing, a spiked thrashing cylinder in the housing, means for feeding a body of unthrashed grain towards said spiked thrashing cylinder, means for separating loose kernels and tailings and dust from the body of unthrashed grain prior to entering said spiked thrashing cylinder, means for treating the kernels and tailings and dust which have been so removed to segregate the kernels, means for removing the dust and other foreign materials incident to segregation of the grain by said last mentioned means, fan means associated with said spiked cylinder for pneumatically conveying tailings above mentioned into said spiked cylinder for thrashing treatment, and means for treating the kernels, straw and chaff subsequent to thrashing action by said spiked cylinder for segregation of the kernels from said straw and chaff.

13. In a thrashing machine the combination of a thrashing housing, thrashing mechanism located at one end of the housing, suction fan means carried at the opposite end of the housing for creating a draft of air flowing through the housing chamber from the thrashing mechanism toward the suction fan means for pneumatically conveying the thrash-ed grain after passing said thrashing unit, and means for feeding the body of unthrashed grain into the housing at a point between the thrashing unit and fan and below the pneumatically conveyed thrashed grain for conveyance to said thrashing unit. 7

14:. In a thrashing machine the combination of a housing, a thrasher unit, means for feeding grain thru the thrasher unit, a baffle device for receiving grain direct from the thrasher unit including a plurality of baflies having resilient baffle faces, and means for pneumatically feeding the grain into said baffle device.

15. In a thrashing machine the combina tion of a housing, a thrasher unit, means for feeding grain to the thrasher unit, a baffle device including a plurality of baffles obliquely disposed in opposite facing relation defining a tortuous way therebetween with its inlet at said thrasher unit, means for pneumatically feeding grain after thrashing into said baffle device, and means for segregation of kernels after baffling.

16. In a thrashing machine the combination of a housing, a thrasher unit, means for feeding grain to the thrasher unit, a baffle device including a series of baflies disposed in opposed facing relation defining a tortuous way therebetween having its inlet directly at said thrasher unit, said baflies having obliquely arranged resilient faces against lOt' which the grain is adapted to strike as it means for segregation of kernels, straw and chaff after passing thru said baflie device.

17. In a thrashing machine the combination of a housing, a conveyor mounted inv the housing, a thrashing unit, means for conveying a body of unthrashed grain from said conveyor into said thrashing unit, a series of battles disposed in oblique opposed relation leading from said thrashing unit for the purpose of receiving a thrashed body of grain from said thrashing unit and providing a tortuous path exiting above said first mentioned conveyor, and: means for pneumatically conveying the thrashed material as it exits from said tortuous path between said baiiies through said housing a sufiicient distance to permit gravity separation of the kernels from the straw and chaif, and means to insure conveyance of the worthless straw and chaff from said kernels.

18. In a thrashing machine the combina tion of a housing, a thrashing unit in the housing, means for conveying a body of unthrashed grain to said thrashing unit to cause loosening of the kernels therefrom, means for segregating the kernels from the straw and chaff in said housing, a conveyor adapted to receive the body of straw and chaff subsequent to said segregating, fan suction means for withdrawing the straw and chaff from said conveyor, and a grid over which said straw and chaff is adaptgd to pass located between said last mentioned conveyor and suction fan for causing gravity separation of tailings and kernels which may have remained in said straw and chaff after the first mentioned gravity separation of the kernels.

19. In a thrashing machine the combination of a housing having a compartment therein, means for feeding unthrashed grain into the housing, a thrashing unit, means for conveying a body of unthrashed grain along said compartment towards said thrashing unit, means for screening from said body of unthrashed grain prior to entering said thrashing unit the loosened kernels, tailings,

dust and foreign materials, means for treating the said screened material to segregate the kernels from the tailings, dust and chaff,

means for pneumatically removing the chait and dust, means for conveying said tailings into the thrashing unit together with the body of unthrashed grain, and means for pneumatically conveying and treating the thrashed grain for the segregation of the chaff and foreign materials from the kernels.

20. In a thrashing machine the combination of a housing having a compartment therein, a thrashing unit in the housing, a screen in the compartment, means for passing a body of unthrashed grain over said screen towards said thrashing unit, a cleaning trommel below the screen for receiving thereon kernels, tailings, chaff, and dust screened from the body of unthrashed grain, means cooperating with the cleaning trommel to segregate the kernels from the tailings and chaff, means for pneumatically segregating the chaff and dust from the tailings adjacent the cleaning trommel, means for conveying the tailings from adjacent the cleaning trommel to said thrashing unit, battle means adjacent the thrashing unit, means for pneumatically conveying the thrashed grain from the thrashing unit thru the batlie means and upwardly thru the housing compartment longitudinally thereof above the body of unthrashed grain, over a course and under such pneumatic action that the kernels may drop from the chaff and dust into the body of unthrashed grain which is moving towards the thrashing unit and screen, and means for further removing remaining kernels from the material which has been pneumatically conveyed longitudinally thru the compartment of the housing as above mentioned.

JULIUS J. TRUEB. 

